Step-by-step buying guide

​

Buying a property, especially your first home, is a big decision to make. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive list to guide you through the buying process, from start to ‘moving in’.

 

1. Work out your budget

The first thing you will want to know is what your budget is. To do this you’ll need to get a realistic picture of your finances, i.e. your income vs your spending, and weigh this up against your deposit - how much you've saved for your home and/or how much equity you have in your current property. For help with your budget, check outsorted.org.nz, familybudgeting.org.nz or familyservices.govt.nz.

Need to sell first? Find out how much your home is worth by getting a free property appraisal.

 

2. Get pre-approved for a home loan

Before you begin your search, it’s important to find out how much money you can borrow. You can find this out from your bank or financial institution.

They can then decide if they can offer you a pre-approval. This is when a bank, financial institution or building society, agrees, in principle, to lend you a certain amount of money.

You can contact a mortgage broker or your bank about this.

 

Top tip

Getting a pre-approval puts you in a better negotiating position, helps speed up the mortgage documentation process and enables you to bid with confidence at auctions.

 

3. Find a solicitor

Before you purchase a property, we recommend that you get your own independent legal advice. 

Finding the right lawyer is an important part of the buying process. Your lawyer will make sure that all the legal processes are followed and they can also check over property reports, such as Land Information Memorandums (Council LIM reports) and titles.

 

Tips on how to find a solicitor

Seeking advice from friends is a good place to start. Otherwise you can contact Auckland District Law Society or  New Zealand Law Society.

 

4. House hunting

And then your search begins. Everyone has their own way of searching, whether it be online, using an app or contacting a salesperson.

​

You can download our free app to search for properties near you or search on our website - we have thousands of properties for sale, with hundreds of new listings every month. 

All our listings appear on Barfoot.co.nz, Realestate.co.nz and HouGarden.com.

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​